RUG HOOKING BLOG

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I'm a mother of four grandmother of seven and great grandmother of three. I live with my husband in the house that we built with the help of my brothers and will have been married for 57 years this February.

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

I'M FREE FROM BLOGGER JAIL

It's been a while since my last post and I'm glad to be back. Thanks to all those who cheered me on when I was locked up. Yes, I felt like I had done some terrible deed when I wasn't looking and that's why I was locked out of my Gmail account,  but thankfully my daughter Jackie came to my rescue and bailed me out.
I think that perhaps the server was slow and my impatience didn't help and then the computer got confused and so Google got confused too and locked me out as I kept trying and I had to wait 24 hours to try again and I was making the same mistake again..   Chapter closed.....



I've have an old cow that was due to calve on the 7th of November and she had difficulty walking and my husband brought her in the calving pen last Thursday. On Friday she couldn't get up and the vet said to give her calcium, which  my husband did with no improvement then the vet came and said that her calf was alive and he treated her. Saturday there was no improvement so the vet came  and couldn't determine if the calf was alive as the cow was down so he couldn't check. All this time the cow was unable to get up but ate and drank well and pooped too. I've had to fork tons of bedding hay to keep her pen as clean as possible. Yesterday the vet gave her some injection to induce her labor and my husband repeated the injection last night. This morning her water broke at about 10 o'clock and still no calf. Late this afternoon my son came to pull the calf with a chain and there was another water bag and  he broke it. I told him that her water had broken in the morning so he realized that she was having twins. At this point we could see two feet and as I'm holding the chains I saw the hooves twitch so I knew that this one was alive. As soon as the head is out I cleared the membrane and the bull calf is pulled out and I clean the mucus from his mouth and nostrils as it's trying to breath on its own.

Then the chain is attached to the other feet and it too is pulled with the pulley and the same mucus clearing is done. This one is a heifer, therefore a freemartin  She will be sterile as the male testosterone are intermixed with her hormone. They will both be sold.


Here my son and two young helpers treating the mother cow in her neck vein. Her head has to be tied so she doesn't move. My grandson was also at the farm today  to witness these birth but was picked up before this shot was taken. They were shadowing a farmer for career day. I'm not sure what title the school uses  for this project. Kids have a day off from school to see what it's like to shadow some worker all day.

I've been in the pen with this cow feeding her and  giving her water  without fear because she couldn't get up  but she let me care for the calves right beside her head without pushing me. She was licking them and seem totally unconcerned about my presence. Luckily I had saved some cholostrum milk  from the last cow that calved to feed them. I got home at 7:00 pm from work.

I know that Halloween is passed but I wanted to show you some pictures that my daughter sent me  of my grandson.





                            Little prince in his day care tiger outfit doing tiger pushups.


                            Little Tiger just being cute.


                       Another pushup


                   Little tiger showing his big teeth. This is where I just cracked up...



This is his Halloween  costume that my daughter made . It's Wookie from Star War.  He went to an office  staff party accompanied with his dad and again won best costumes this year and $100.00 gift certificate. 


This is my son in law in his Solo costume  from Star War that my daughter made this year. Now I'm off to comment on some blogs that I didn't get around to visit yet. 

Thanks for dropping in and please leave a comment.

22 comments:

  1. Julia! You're back!!! We are sooo glad!

    What a time you've had with the cow and calves. Being a farmer never has a dull or restful moment.

    Love the pictures of your darling grandbaby! He looks so cute in his costume, especially the teeth!

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  2. None of your cow photos came through, but those adorable grandkids did. They are so sweet!

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  3. Julia ~ you are a tough cookie!! Pulling calves out with chains!! I would have had to go in the house!! I wouldn't have made a very good farmer ~ so happy the two babies are okay ~ is the mother on her feet yet? And so glad you got your blog back ~ what a nightmare that had to be!! Blogger can make us crazy!! Welcome back!!

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  4. Oh... your grandbaby ! .... how precious is this...

    Welcome back ;)

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  5. yay!!! you're back!!!!! and WHAT stories to tell!! SO interesting about calves needing to be pulled out! and twins.. you are a good grandmama to the little baby calves... and speaking of babies.. so so so cute, and MY what big teeth you have..hehe so cute makes me want to snuggle his little neck!

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  6. So glad to see you back. and of course never a dull moment. your grandbaby is so cute. I love the teeth. My grandbaby was a lady bug.
    Cathy

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  7. Julia ~
    WELCOME BACK! I hope your problems are behind you.
    Yout grandbaby is too darned cute!!! Those pics with the teeth pacifier are hilarious!!!
    Pug hugs :)
    Lauren

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  8. Oh my goodness! Glad to see you back with all new adventures! That Wookie costume is the best and with the teeth pacifier...I cracked up!

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  9. Julia - your little grandson is just adorable! I love that pacifier! Too funny!


    Wow! You've been busy with the cows for sure!

    Take care!

    Char

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  10. You always post such excitement Julia! Glad the momma cow and babies are ok. Your Grandson is so precious. I love those costumes LOL! And your son in law looks terrific too!

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  11. What a cute Wookie. I love it when they are working so hard trying to move.
    You are one tough cookie helping with that delivery. Glad the calves are okay. Will the mother be okay as well. I can't imagine how much work goes into having a farm.
    Glad you are back.
    Any tips for us if this happens. I saw another person had the same trouble this week.
    Have a good week-end.

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  12. Glad you are back. Your grandson looks adorable. Love the push-ups! It made me smile. Can you send me an email later today - I don't which email address of yours is the one now. All those extras confused me last week (not hard) hugs, Kim

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  13. Julia,
    It's good to see you're officially back! With great photos and exciting news from the barn!!!
    Your Grandson is soooooooo adorable! That costume is the cutest one I've ever seen! No wonder he won the costume contest! Your sil is pretty dashing as well!
    I will be working on a post to officially thank-you for the wool winnings!
    Thanks again and happy blogging!!!
    Hugs!
    Cathy G

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  14. I am so glad that you are out of Blogger Jail.
    Thank you Jackie for helping mom out!

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  15. Cheri Back to larkriseNovember 3, 2011 at 1:25 PM

    Julia,Blogger jail is no fun. I missed you. I love the pictures of Halloween. Boy your daughter is talented. Baby looked so cute!!!
    I loved his costume.You are super woman. I can't handle a dumb mouse in the house and your birthing cows.Wow!HUgs Cheri

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  16. Julia, I am posting this for my mom, Darlene Robbins (from Grandma Robbins Nest) because she cannot comment on your blog for some reason.

    "I am so sorry I have not been able to make a comment on your blog. I seem to have a glitch in my computer that won't allow me to. I have two other people that I have the same problem with, and I comment to them by email, but since I don't have your email address, I can't ever make contact. Would it be possible for you to send me you email address so I could make my comments that way?"

    My mom loves your blog and really is frustrated that she can't comment lately. Thanks!

    =)

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  17. I'm still trying on my own to get on your blog so here is another attempt.

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  18. Yes, I'm so glad to see MY Julia BACK!!!

    I always learn interesting things from your blog (sometimes about plants, sometimes about wool, sometimes about hooking...)...I knew some things about calving but not that you start an IV in the cow's neck or that a female twin will be sterile etc. Fascinating.
    You grandson gets cuter with each picturre you post! The outfits are all clever...your daughter is quite the seamstress!! ~Bet she learned it from YOU!!

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  19. Hi, Julia. It's not me who has a problem commenting on your blog, it's my mom. Dar from the blog Grandma Robbins Nest. I've always been able to comment here just fine.

    She is the one who needs your email so she can comment.

    Thanks!

    =)

    PS. If you like, just send it to me and I'll get it to her.

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  20. YOu are welcome Mom. Glad that I could help. YOu just have to ....follow the directions :-)

    I am glad that you are back too. And the silly woman tried to pay me cash! I accecpted payment in the form of the last of her Halloween Butterfingers chocolate bars.

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  21. Honey thank goodness your back. What would I have done without you? I did not want to find out you really had me worried.
    Goodness girlfriend you never slow down. Thank goodness the cow was able to give healthy births and you all new what to do. Me I would been running around with my head cut off.
    Your little Tiger is just so adorable. I love his pics of Halloween and his dad's costume was great too.
    Have a great weekend
    Love
    Maggie

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  22. Welcome back Julia! What problems blogger can cause, a while back I lost all of my followers and I am still in the process of locating them. I just have to say that is one handsome grandbaby!

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